Guido’s story reaches back to 1918, when brothers Dominick and Jim Guido came from Cosenza, Italy, and opened their first restaurant, Wells Brothers, in Racine, Wisconsin. Their love of Italian cooking became a family tradition, passed from one generation to the next.
Bill Wells carried that tradition forward. In the 1940s, he went to Chicago to learn the art of making pizza. Few people know that the original Chicago-style pizza actually had a thin crust, the same crisp crust our guests have come to love.
In 1962, Bill opened a restaurant of his own, the Cozy Lounge. He later renamed it Guido’s, in honor of the family’s original surname. Over the years, ten Guido’s restaurants opened, from Racine, Madison, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Sarasota, New Port Richey, Crystal River, and, since 1984, Spring Hill, Florida.
William H. Wells, Bill’s son and a former owner of Guido’s, grew up working alongside his father. As he once put it, “We worked, lived, laughed and cried together.” Along with the cooking, Bill passed on his belief in taking good care of the people who came through the door.
That care continues in our kitchen, with fresh ingredients and homemade favorites like our Chicago-style thin crust pizza and lasagna. Every day, we strive to prepare quality food and offer courteous, attentive service in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.
Whether you’re sharing a meal with family, catching up with friends, or taking dinner home, we hope you enjoy your meal and always feel welcome at Guido’s.
Buon appetito!
